The Scanning Electron Microscope at Noisebridge.

is tended by Jeff Miller, Alan Rockefeller, Chris and Jim and the rest of the SEM mailing list

Warnings

If you release the vacuum without venting the pump hose, pump oil will flood the chamber and contaminate the entire mechanism, requiring 10 hours of cleanup.

If you vent air into the column without powering down the filament, you'll probably destroy the filament ($100). The filament has a design lifetime of about 25 hours, depending on the current put through it. Adjust the specimen stage and other controls at low current, reserve higher currents for final photos.

Mike Khan has warned that if anyone asks him anything about the SEM, he's going to move it to another hackerspace.

Startup procedures

If the power cord is not already present, ask around or post to the list a few days prior to using the 'scope.

See PDFs on vacuum start up and operators manual linked below.

Todo list

Short Term:

Determine if their is sufficient interest in the SEM and morale among the group to rationalize going forward. (2013-6-20)

Replace most of the rubber tubing with metal tubing to reduce outgassing and pump-down times. (2013-6-20)

Long Term:

Column liner needs to be replaced. Larry may be able to provide a clean liner. (2010-06-15) (update: Larry has taken column liner to his lab for cleaning)(update: column liner is now clean) (2013-6-20)

Integrate the digital capture and control unit Jeff built for his own Mini-SEM into the unit. (2013-6-20)

Specimen Images

Image of mechanical pencil graphite smudge on an aluminum slug at approximately 20x magnification. The specimen is about 1 mm across. This is prior to repairing the X Stigmator. Magnification was limited. Imaged by Chris Murphy and Mike Kan.

Tip of mechanical pencil graphite on aluminum slug. 10,000x magnification. This is post repair of X Stigmator. Specimen was moving on the slug due to mechanical vibration. Imaged by the Noisebridge SEM. Mike Kan, Chris Murphy.